Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Today would have been my father's 72 birthday, he died in 1996 at the age of 58. He was a big Francophile, and he even moved us to France when I was in the fourth grade. I have celebrated his birthday every year with a special French dinner, and I will do the same here in China. We are looking forward to dining in the old French Concession in Shanghai tonight, he would have loved this very French area.

French Concession, Shanghai

It has been fascinating coming across some of the papers he wrote, as they are being digitized and released on the internet. I have also discovered that he held a patent on "Thermal Decay Time Logging Method", whatever that is! Sadly, I don't understand a word of what he wrote either. His titles include: "Neutron Scattering from a Solution of a Polymer", "The Effect of Long-Range Heterogeneities", and "Time Dependence of Neutron Pulses in the Slowing Down Energy Region", huh? It looks like I inherited his love of France, his propensity for putting his foot in his mouth, his sweatiness, but most definitely not his brains.

Hello, Linda Crispell! I have been thinking about you. I'm coming up on my 2 year blog-versary and you were such an influence on me in the beginnings of my journey. Your blog is still hands down one of my most favorites that I have discovered, though my visits have been fewer. Life has thrown lots of curve balls this year and I just now feel like I am finding "home" and the familiar again.

I remember your father celebrations and am even more touched by them now that my dad is gone.

Your new house is lovely! I am wondering how the heck you will ever come home with such a beautiful place to live and with all of your lovely finds in the markets there. You will need to rent a huge ship to get it all back! What an incredible adventure to be on!

I love the duck paddle boats - reminds me of the swan boats you once shared. You still find the coolest stuff to share.

Hi Linda!Sorry I am so late seeing this post... haven't been keeping up my own blog, let alone looking at my favs. Baaaadddd blogette, I know.

I can tell how very much you miss your sweet dad, and I know the feeling well. He would be so pleased by your accomplishments--- the way you raise your children and live your life! (Bet he's enjoying your new surroundings watching and soaking up the sights with you).

Hope all is well with you and your family, and you are making all of us 'over here' GREEN with envy with your shopping photos!